1.Which foreign leader with cool relations with the US congratulated Barack Obama on his election victory, writing: "I hope you will prefer real public interests and justice to the never-ending demands of a selfish minority, and seize the opportunity to serve people so that you will be remembered with high esteem."

North Korea’s Kim Jong Il

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe

Cuba’s Raul Castro

Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

2.According to Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, what was Barack Obama’s transition team willing to extend him in return for a favourable appointment to the president-elect’s vacant US Senate seat?

A kiss

"A coke and a smile"

“Appreciation”

The ambassadorship to Malawi

3.What was the Dow Jones Industrial Average of stocks on the New York Stock Exchange opening on January 2, 2008?

14,201

13,262

10,245

8,346

4.Which Republican politician has not sworn off alcohol?

Mike Huckabee

John McCain

Mitt Romney

George Bush

5.At the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota in September, George Bush was:

Primetime speaker

Absent

Bandleader

Master of ceremonies

6.Which erstwhile Democratic presidential candidate was not offered a speaking role at the party convention in Denver in August?

Indiana senator Evan Bayh

Former North Carolina senator John Edwards

Former Virginia governor Mark Warner

Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich

7.According to court documents, which of the following is a predilection of “Client 9” of the Emperor’s Club call-girl service, allegedly former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer?

Turning off all the lights in the room at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel

Champagne and strawberries

“Things that, like, you might not think were safe.”

Adult videos

8.In her quest to be appointed to fill the New York Senate seat left vacant by Hillary Clinton, which did Caroline Kennedy not cite as a qualification to hold the prestigious office?

Her work as an author

Three terms on the New York City council

Her law degree

“Being a mother, you know, I understand, sort of, those choices that women make.”

9.Who of the following was not mentioned as a possible vice-presidential running mate for John McCain?

Former US trade representative Rob Portman

Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty

Independent (formerly Democratic) Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

10.In an October campaign speech, to whom did John McCain mistakenly say he had presented a thorough domestic policy agenda (prepared remarks showed him addressing “my fellow citizens”)?

“My fellow Republicans”

“My fellow prisoners”

“The people of Iraq, who want their freedom, and who are willing to stand up and defend their freedom.”

“The good people of Manchester, New Hampshire, who stood by me when the liberal media was writing my obituary”